Fujiwara no Yoshifusa
9th Century Japanese statesman and Regent to the Emperor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fujiwara no Yoshifusa (藤原 良房; 804 – October 7, 872), also known as Somedono no Daijin or Shirakawa-dono, was a Japanese statesman, courtier and politician during the Heian period.[1]
When Yoshifusa's grandson was enthroned as Emperor Seiwa, Yoshifusa assumed the role of regent (sesshō) for the young monarch.[1] He was the first sesshō in Japanese history who was not himself of imperial rank; and he was the first of a series of regents from the Fujiwara clan.[1]
Career
He was a minister during the reigns of Emperor Ninmyō, Emperor Montoku and Emperor Seiwa.[1]
- 834 (Jōwa 1, 9th day of the 7th month): Sangi
- 835 (Jōwa 2): Gon-no-Chūnagon
- 840 (Jōwa 7): Chūnagon
- 842 (Jōwa 9): Dainagon
- 848 (Saikō 1, 1st month): Udaijin[2]
- 857 (Saikō 4, 19th day of the 2nd month): Daijō Daijin[3]
- 858 (Ten'an 2, 7th day of the 11th month): Sesshō for Emperor Seiwa.[4]
- October 7, 872 (Jōgan 14, 2nd day of the 9th month): Yoshifusa died at the age of 69.[5]
Yoshifusa conceived the programme of boy-sovereigns with Fujiwara regents; and his adopted son, Mototsune, carried out the plans.[6]
Genealogy
This member of the Fujiwara clan was the son of Fujiwara no Fuyutsugu.[1] Yoshifusa's brothers were Fujiwara no Nagayoshi,[7] Fujiwara no Yoshisuke[8] and Fujiwara no Yoshikado.[9]
Marriages and children
He was married to Minamoto no Kiyohime (源 潔姫), daughter of Emperor Saga.
They had only one daughter.
- Akirakeiko/Meishi (明子) (829–899), consort of Emperor Montoku
He adopted his brother Nagara's third son.
- Mototsune (基経) (836–891) – Daijō Daijin and Kampaku
Yoshifusa is referred to as Chūjin Kō (忠仁公) (posthumous title was Daijō Daijin).
See also
- Fujiwara Regents
- Shoku Nihon Kōki, one of the Six National Histories of Japan; edited by Fujiwara no Yoshifusa.